Unitarian Universalist Society of Mill Creek
We are a community that invites you to awaken to love.
IN THIS ISSUE
** Sunday Worship Service:
February 13, 2022
10:00 am – Livestream
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Join us as Heather Petit shares her sermon:
Playing in a pandemic may seem challenging, or even a little inappropriate. But playing is an important way to take care of ourselves and each other. Join us for the third sermon in Heather Petit’s four-sermon series on spiritual practices for these times.
Connect With Us Virtually
There are several ways to get the Zoom link for livestreaming the service:
* Click the link below (Sunday Livestream) and bookmark it; OR
* Access the church calendar (https://www.uusmc.org/news/calendar/) (https://www.uusmc.org/news/calendar/); OR
* Open our Sunday morning email; OR
* Open ANY PREVIOUS Sunday morning email – the link remains the same from week to week
Click here for Sunday LIVESTREAM (https://zoom.us/j/97806427419)
** Congregational Life
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** Upcoming events, meetings and news to know
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** Support Our Local Food Banks
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As the pandemic lingers on and our church building remains closed, our social justice programs have suffered — programs like our annual Souper Bowl Sunday event, traditionally held on the second Sunday in February, benefitting the Food Bank of Delaware.
The Food Bank of Delaware is a statewide hunger-relief organization with operations in both Newark and Milford. They are the only facility in Delaware with the equipment, warehouse, and staff to collect donations from all sectors of the food industry and safely and efficiently redistribute them to those who need it most. Their mission is to provide nutritious foods to Delawareans in need and facilitate long-term solutions to the problems of hunger and poverty through community education and advocacy. And they don’t provide just food! The Food Bank also offers a variety of programs and services – a culinary school, a fully-functional Café, catering services, a five-acre working farm, warehousing & logistics training programs – and others.
You can still support this vital organization with your personal financial donation, and/or with donations of food items:
DONATE FOOD: Food donations are currently accepted at the Newark (222 Lake Drive) & Milford (1040 Mattlind Way) warehouses daily, 8:30 am to 4:00 pm. Most needed items: hot & cold cereals, peanut butter; canned fruits, meats & vegetables; rice & pasta. NO sodas, sweets, or candy. Click (https://www.fbd.org/get-involved/donate-food-2/) here (https://www.fbd.org/get-involved/donate-food-2/) for more detailed information about food donations and drop-off procedures.
DONATE BY CHECK: Food Bank DE, 222 Lake Drive, Newark, DE 19702 Attn: Development Department
DONATE ELECTRONICALLY: use the button below
Click here to donate to the Food Bank of Delaware (https://www.fbd.org/onlinedonations/)
PENNSYLVANIA:
Chester County Food Bank is the central location for local agencies, such as food cupboards and pantries, that serve the hungry and food insecure of Chester County, Pennsylvania.
Click here to learn how you can support CCFB (https://chestercountyfoodbank.org/)
MARYLAND:
The Cecil County Help Center operates a food pantry that is designed to assist people who are facing food insecurity throughout Cecil County. The pantry directly serves individuals daily by providing food that is donated by a variety of community partnerships.
Click here to learn more (https://cecilhelp4u.com/help-center)
** Mill Creek Board Meeting Agenda
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Board Meeting Agenda
Wednesday, 16 February, 2022, 6:30pm on Zoom
Opening – Soul Matters theme of “Widening the Circle”
It’s the community’s job to figure out how we can stretch into the so-called margins to broaden our understanding and the ability to be inclusive. Inclusivity is not “how do we make you a part of what we are?” but “how do we become more of what you are?” – angel Kyodo williams Sensei
Consent Agenda
January Board Meeting minutes
Reports
Treasurer
Discussion
Charging Station, tree planting, Worldwide Teach-in on Climate and Justice – Jamie
COVID-19 Statistics and Opening Policy
Service Auction Planning
Innovating Into an Unknown Future
Activities – Music Committee (choir), Worldwide Teach-In on Climate and Justice
Adjourn
We have to change [and widen] our idea of what it means to be racist… When we understand racism as a system that we have been raised in and that its impact is inevitable, it’s really not a question of good or bad. It’s just, “I have it. I have been socialized into it.” And so, “What am I going to do about it?” is really the question… if you change your understanding, but you don’t do anything different, then you’re colluding. – Robin DiAngelo
** Documentary Film Viewing via Zoom:
“An American Story: Race Amity and the Other Tradition”
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The National Center for Race Amity (NCRA) (https://raceamity.org/) and Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame recipient William H. Smith, Ed.D., present:
Members of the Baha’i Community of Greater Newark* have graciously extended an invitation to Mill Creek members and friends to attend a virtual screening of An American Story: Race Amity and the Other Tradition on Wednesday evening, February 23rd at 7 pm.
This documentary film tackles racism through friendship and collaboration. It is a historical look at the impact of cross-racial and cross-cultural relationships on America’s development.
The screening of the 55-minute film will take place on Wednesday, February 23rd at 7 pm. It will be hosted by members of the Baha’i Community of Greater Newark* via Zoom and facilitated by Ms. Shirley Ganao. There will be an opportunity for open discussion after the film.
The Zoom link will be emailed upon request using the link below:
Click here to request the Zoom link to view the film (mailto:shayesgan@yahoo.com?subject=Request%20for%20Zoom%20link%3A%20%22An%20American%20Story%3A%20Race%20Amity%20and%20the%20Other%20Tradition%22&body=Hi%2C%20please%20send%20me%20the%20zoom%20link%20for%20An%20American%20Story.%0AMy%20name%20is%3A%0A)
For more information:
LEARN MORE about the film here (https://raceamityfilm.org/about-the-documentary/)
SEE A PREVIEW of the film here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DMrg7pfQzI&t=12s)
*The Baha’i Faith is a worldwide religion, founded in 1844. Among the fundamental beliefs of the Baha’i Faith are the oneness of mankind; the essential unity of all the world’s religions- that they all have come from the same divine source and for the same common purpose of the spiritual education and development of humanity; and the nobility of the human spirit. Baha’is everywhere work diligently towards the betterment of the world, including social justice and equity, and the establishment of unity and harmony.
** Land Stewardship Opportunities at Mill Creek
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TREE PRUNING
Saturday, February 26 @ 9 am
Learn and help us prune our Asian Pear trees. Bring work gloves and pruning shears or clippers, and dress for the weather.
Winter fruit tree pruning spurs vigorous growth and helps to ensure healthy fruit production later in the year. Jamie will be demonstrating how to properly prune the fruit trees to maximize the tree’s health and its fruit yield.
MEADOW CUTTING
Thursday, March 10 @ 9 am
Periodic meadow cutting prevents annual weeds from seeding, and ensures that young perennial plants and flowers growing below the mow height will receive enough light for strong establishment.
We have a tractor coming from the Delaware Nature Society to do the hard work, but we can really use help trimming around the trees so the tractor can more easily navigate around the meadow. This is typically an all-day event, with the bulk of the work being done between 9 am and 12 noon. Kids and youth of all ages are encouraged to come out with their parents or responsible adult and learn why the work we do on church grounds is so important.
Fee free to contact Jamie Kegerise (mailto:jamie@dsofurniture.com) or Amy White (mailto:amywwhite@comcast.net) with any questions.
** Tech Help Needed on Sunday Mornings
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A seamless livestreaming experience at Mill Creek doesn’t just happen…it takes a team of dedicated individuals who are willing to donate their time and skills to enhance the Sunday morning experience for us all. To more evenly distribute the duties each week, we are looking to increase the number of people who can perform the important tasks of Zoom Manager.
WHO:
* anyone with experience and a comfort level with the Zoom format, including basic hosting and coordinating breakout rooms
* anyone with the willingness to come inside the church building
WHEN: one Sunday per month, 9:30 – 11:00 am
WHAT:
* Monitoring the waiting room and admitting participants
* Muting participants as needed
* Managing remote joys & sorrows
* Communicating with participants through chat (including email sign-ups, giving, etc.)
* Setting up breakout rooms
HOW: training will be offered with our existing team of Zoom Managers: Karen Rege, Anna Hull, Chris Knight; a detailed description of each task will be provided; opportunity for shadowing on a Sunday morning can be scheduled.
Click the button below to connect with Anna Hull with questions about the role or to offer your help.
I can help! (or maybe I’m just curious…) (mailto:akhull1999@yahoo.com?subject=zoom%20manager%20position)
** Senior or Sage?
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Part of a series shared by
Rev. Bob Broesler
Greetings and welcome to a new series of articles related to “Aging and Spirituality”, or as I like to say, don’t call us Seniors – we are Sages. This is certainly not disconnected from grief, as the moving through and beyond loss is a profoundly spiritual experience. The new emphasis will be broader in focus and serve as a teaching, a challenge and the exploration of opportunities for serving our community.
The basic premise is two-fold. First, the last quarter of life has unique qualities which parallel the teaching of all the great Prophets and Sages humanity has known. The second is that we “Seniors” not only have a great capacity for assisting the maturity of our culture, but are indeed essential to a healthy development of our current and future civilization.
From a historical perspective, this is not at all a new concept. Drawing from just one of the ancient human civilizations of our world, that of Africa, it was understood that the Elders had an essential role to play with young people. This was particularly true during one of the most difficult times in life, the period between childhood and adulthood. Africans address the need of the young to find their identity by guiding them through rites of passage. Adults, especially Elders, were central figures in this process.
The community integrated the role of Elder/Sages with intentionality. Young people did not become adults by accident or naturally evolving into being “grownups.” They also did not do it in isolation from the wisdom of the Sages. At a minimum, in our culture, this means affirming and employing the experience and role of grandparents. (In later articles I will explore additional ways to employ the gifts of Sages.)
We can see this relationship paralleled throughout every mature civilization across the globe over the last 10,000 years. (The best living example of this phenomena in our age is the OWL program, which we are blessed to have at Mill Creek.) Yet it is no exaggeration to say that the uniquely rapid cultural changes of the last 60 years have undermined much of this essential characteristic. I invite you on a journey of conversation and reflection on, for one, our personal spiritual development. Second, how we can restore and recreate this essential balance between youthful excitement/exploration and the mature wisdom/reflection of the Sages, Elders and Wise people of our current generation?
Thank you for reading this introduction. I look forward to sharing with you, both in written text and in reflective groups, a conversation about how we can share the riches of our lifelong learning with those who are entering the increasingly difficult, yet wonderfully rich, challenges of adulthood in the 21^st century.
Contact Rev. Bob by email here (mailto:rjbroesler@gmail.com)
** Share Our Plate:
January & February
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We regularly donate a portion of our undesignated plate collection to a local charity or non-profit organization.
For the months of January and February we have selected:
YoungMoms in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania
The mission of YoungMoms is to inspire and equip young mothers to build thriving futures for themselves and their families. This non-profit organization, serving southern Chester County, Pennsylvania, provides the academic, employment, parenting and relational support pregnant and parenting young mothers need to achieve their life goals and improve their lives and those of their children.
The individuals they serve face huge challenges as they navigate adolescence and parenthood simultaneously, including incomplete education, poverty, language barriers, isolation, and a general lack of options and opportunities. YoungMoms offers a program of individualized, comprehensive, and long-term support to these young women.
For more information about this organization, click on the link below:
LEARN MORE about YoungMoms (https://youngmomschestercounty.org/)
Support this organization with your online donation today!**
DONATE to Share Our Plate (https://onrealm.org/MillCreek/-/give/now)
**Be sure to select ‘Share Our Plate’ as the giving fund**
** Upcoming Book Group Selections
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Everyone is welcome to join the Book Group for discussions about the upcoming selections:
Glass Hotel by Emily St. John Mandel
Tuesday, March 1^st at 7 pm
Radium Girls by Kate Moore
Tuesday, May 3^rd at 7 pm
Zoom links remain the same for each discussion and can be found on the church calendar (https://www.uusmc.org/news/calendar/) . Contact the church office with any questions.
Realm is our church management software program. We use it exclusively for accounting, pledge data, membership, registration events, and more. Use the button below to access your Realm profile to make sure we have your most recent contact information, and make pledge payments and contributions.
Access your Realm profile HERE (https://onrealm.org/MillCreek/SignIn)
Fun fact: you can use Realm to set up recurring online monthly pledge payments using a credit card or your checking or savings account!
We encourage you to continue your financial support of Mill Creek during the closure by using one of the following methods:
1. Mail a check: 579 Polly Drummond Hill Road, Newark DE 19711 (staff is present in the office and the mailbox is checked daily). Please indicate on the subject line if this is a pledge payment, a general contribution, or a contribution to a specific giving fund.
2. Give electronically through REALM using your credit card or bank account (checking, savings, etc.): https://onrealm.org/MillCreek/Give or use the link below (remember to select a giving fund).
3. Text-to-Give: text MillCreek and the amount [e.g. MillCreek 50] to 73256.
We sincerely appreciate your support of Mill Creek, especially now during an uncertain time for us all. But, the work of the church continues! We gratefully acknowledge that there would be no Mill Creek without YOU. Thank you.
**Click here to GIVE NOW** (https://onrealm.org/MillCreek/-/give/now)
Follow us on Instagram!
@millcreekuu
Mill Creek Staff
Rev. Gregory S. Pelley, Minister
Rev. Greg is away on sabbatical now through June 30.
He will not be available by phone or email throughout the duration of his absence. We offer assurance that all church operations will continue as usual, and have prepared a guide which contains a list of guest speakers, contact information for those in leadership positions, and other information. Use the link below to access the guide.
Sabbatical Guide – view it here (https://www.uusmc.org/wp-content/uploads/A-Guide-to-Rev-Gregs-Sabbatical.pdf)
Debra Damiani, Congregational Administrator
Monday 8 am to 1 pm, Monday-Thursday
administrator@uusmc.org (mailto:administrator@uusmc.org)
302-369-2712
Rachel Sabella, Music Director
Hours by Appointment
music@uusmc.org (mailto:music@uusmc.org)
302-369-2712
** News from the UUA, the Central East Region, and the Delmarva Cluster
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** A Theology of Darkness
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By Kristen L. Harper
From UU World Magazine
Fall 2021
Photo: © iStock.com/bjdlzx
Rev. Dr. Kristen L. Harper writes about the consistent equating of darkness and blackness with negative qualities such as sin and despair, and that relearning to appreciate the darkness takes intention and practice.
Read the article in full here (https://www.uuworld.org/articles/theology-darkness)
https://www.uua.org/central-east
**
Opportunities for Connection: Central East Region Update
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FEBRUARY 2022
Opportunities for Connection – click here to learn more (https://www.uua.org/central-east/blog/opportunities-222)
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